Benchmark indices were trading flat after trading rangebound throughout the morning session, with the Nifty still managing to hold on to 9900-mark.

The Nifty Bank gave up some of its gains in the previous hour, thereby dragging frontline indices lower from its morning highs. Nifty Bank and PSU bank index was down around half a percent, while the BSE Bankex was trading lower as well.

The Sensex was down 0.33 points at 31770.56, while the Nifty was up 6.10 points at 9903.40. The market breadth was positive, but was narrowing as compared to the morning breadth. Around 1,384 shares advanced against a decline of 898 shares while 95 shares were unchanged.

Coal India, Infosys and Vedanta continued to lead the charts, while Hindustan Unilever and Cipla lost the most on both indices.

Meanwhile, in Europe, the markets are forecast to open lower as uncertainty surrounding internal US policy continues to weigh on investor sentiment despite lessening tensions from North Korea.

The FTSE 100 is expected to open 22 points lower at 7,411; the French CAC is seen down 23 points at 5,153; and the German DAX is on track to open 48 points down at 12,215.